Apparatus for unsealing and removing can-tops.



S A. ELLIS. APPARATUS FOR UNSEALING AND REMOVING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30,1917.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- S. A. ELLIS. APPARATUS FOR UNSEALING AND REMOVING CAN TOPS.

. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30,191]- 1,256

Patented Feb. l2,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATEg PATENT QFFIGE.

STEPHEN A. ELLIS, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

APPARATUS FOR UNSEALING AND REMOVING CAN-TOPS.

Application filed June 30, 1917.

fl '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN A. ELLIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Unsealing and Removing Can-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for unsealing and removing the tops of tin cans so that the latter can be used again, thereby preventing the destruction and waste of cans which results from the opening of the can top by cutting it with the ordinary can opener.

The tops of cans are customarily secured in position and sealed by solder, wax or like agent, which is readily fusible. The difficulty in removing the top to'open the can without injuring it arises from the fact that when a melting iron is applied to the ring of solder to melt it and loosen the top, no means is provided for lifting the top without first removing the iron and experience has proven that the time necessary after removing the iron for engaging the can top with some suitable means for lifting it is suiiieient to permit the solder to reharden and hold the top in place. The problem therefore is to provide an apparatus which while keeping the solder melted will enable the can top to be engaged and lifted away from the can along with the melting iron.

In my preferred apparatus I provide an annular metallic melting iron with a side handle, thus leaving unobstructed access to the can top from above, and I connect to the melting iron in some suitable manner a puncturing and lifting tool adapted to be passed down through the annular body of the iron and caused to puncture and engage the top of the can so that when the apparatus is raised, the can top is lifted freely from the can and is not damaged in any way as the small puncture hole therein is necessary in the top when used again on a refilled can. \Vhile it is desirable for the puncturing and lifting tool to be attached to the heating iron to facilitate operation and to avoid the parts becoming separated, my invention nevertheless contemplates the utilization of a detached puncturing and lifting tool adaptedto be inserted through the opening in the melting iron and to be lifted Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 178,053.

with the iron to remove the can top as soon as the solder has been melted.

My invention contemplates making the annular melting iron in any desired form and of any suitable material and in order that it may be adjusted for removing can tops of different diameters I have formed the iron of a split ring with an adjustable joint connection which permits it to be expanded or contracted to give it the desired diameter.

My melting iron can also be used as a solderir-g iron so as to both solder the can tops and remove them.

My invention further comprises the several details of construction and arrangements of parts, which are more particularly pointed out in the claim and in which their preferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my preferrcd device showing the melting iron applied to the can and the puncturing and lifting tool in position to be forced through the can top.

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical cross sectional views showing the iron and puncturing tool in different operating positions.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification of my invention in which the lifting tool is detached from the heater.

Figs. 5 and (3 are plan and side views of a modified form of expansible heater.

Fig. 7 is a view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the lifting tool.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, I have shown my invention applied to lifting a top 1 from a tin can 2, the top and can being of the ordinary standard construction. The circular top has its down-turned marginal edge seated in a countersunk annular groove 3 in the can top and secured therein by a ring or band 4 of solder or any suitable fusible sealing agent. This is the present standard practice in securing can tops in place. My apparatus for removing the top comprises an annular melting iron 5 formed of any suitable material and it is preferably left unobstructed above so that the can top is more readily accessible to the lifting tool hereinafter described. The iron is adapted to overlie the ring of solder having the same diameter as will be more clearly seen in 'wood so as to receive in its side a wood screw '9 whlch' IS passed through the eye 10 formed at the outer end of the puncturing and lifting tool 11. 'lhis tool may be formed of heavy wire having its free end 12- bent down at Lght angles and provided with a sharpened point 13. The length of the end 12 of the lifting tool is such that when its point 13 rests upon the can top,'as seen in Fig. 2,

the body 11 of the tool stands substantlally above the top of themelting iron. By striking the end of the tool with any convenient implement, its point 18 is caused to pierce and 'f-rictionally hold the can top 1, as seen in Fig. 3, and this takes place without disturbing or moving the iron 5 from the band of solder which is being melted thereby. By the time the solder is melted the iron is lifted and its top edge engages the tool 11, lifting it with it and raising the top 1 from the can by its frictional grip on the lifting tool.

nular split ring 1% havingits melting ends.

lapped and: one provid-ed with an elongated slot 15 while the other is provided with a small hole adapted to receive the rod 6 of the handle, which is also passed through the.

slot 15; The nuts 7 lIlthlS. construction are applied so as to clamp between them the lapped ends of the ring and hold the latter adjust-ed thereon with the, desired diameter. Fig. 5 shows the ring in contracted and eX- panded positions so that it can be used for Copies ofthis patent may be obtain-ed. for

' removing different sized can tops. The lifting tool 16 is shown as a separate tool having a slightly bent and sharpened point 17 which is adapted to both puncture and lift the top when the tool is inserted through the ring 14 in the manner shown in Fig. l.

In operation, the meltitg iron 5 is brought to the necessary heat for melting the holder, its puncturing tool 11 being turned-back to its dotted position shown in Fig. 1. When thus heated, the iron is applied over the V band of solder andthe puncturing tool is then driven through the can top, but where p the melting iron 15% is used, the tool 16 is preferably first used to puncture the can top parting from the novel principles'under lying it, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, s:

An apparatus for removing can topscoin risin an annular meltin iron a ra-' dially disposed handle connected to the side of the iron, a puncturing tool hinged to the handle and having a downeturned sharpened end adapted'to swing down; through the iron and engage and puncture the can top-s, sub-. stantially as described.

Witness Noam-n WVnLsH.

five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Waslgi ngtombt. i

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa- 

